Proverbs 19:21 – The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established. (NRSV)

Since I was a child, it has been a dream of mine to be a writer. I wrote my first poem at age ten and continued writing throughout my teens. During my university studies, some of my work was published in one of the campus magazines.

After graduating, I started writing a novel while I drifted from job to job. When the opportunity presented itself to teach at a private school, I accepted the position without much thought.

I was optimistic that I would be able to write in my free time; however, my career took over my life. I worked 80 hours a week, on weekends and in the school holidays. My half-finished manuscript lay forgotten and started to accumulate dust, along with my childhood aspirations.

When a diagnosis of burnout forced me to leave the teaching profession, I knew that I had to make a lifestyle change. This time, I consciously sought God's advice through prayer and petition. In response, He put it on my heart that I should become a Christian writer and blogger.

To be honest, this was not the answer that I was expecting to hear. However, with the gift of hindsight, I realized that making decisions independent from God hadn't worked out well for me in the past. Hebrews 13:5 states that God will never fail us nor forsake us. Maybe, the time had now come for me to act in faith and follow God's way.

Fast forward to today, and I am currently sitting in my favourite café enjoying a steaming cup of coffee, while on my laptop, I am writing an article for a Christian magazine. Choosing to trust God and launch a new career as a Christian writer and blogger has changed my life. I relish being my own boss, and being a creator invigorates me. Stress and drudgery are things of the past.

I am so grateful to God for revealing His purpose for my life. It has taught me that His way is always designed with our well-being in mind, because He loves us and knows what's best for us.

Friends, if making your own decisions hasn't worked out well for you in the past, maybe it's now time to choose God's way. God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly over all that we ask or think, so let's trust in Him and His process of doing things. He will always keep our best interests at heart and make all things beautiful.

Prayer: Sovereign Lord, You are the way, the truth, and the life. Teach us not to rely on our own understanding, but to trust in the wonderful plan that You have for our lives, for only You know what is best for us. Amen.

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About the author:

Madeline Kalu <madelinetwooney@gmail.com>
Bochum, Germany
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